Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24780025›Full record

Observational studyAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England2014

The rising rate of admissions for tonsillitis and neck space abscesses in England, 1991-2011.

A S Lau, N S Upile, M D Wilkie, S C Leong, A C Swift

Open access · hybridAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
4.3field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 60 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Quality of life after tonsillectomy in adult patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis: a systematic review.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2022
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. A 4-year retrospective study of tonsillectomy rate and admission rate of tonsillitis and complications in the East of England and nationally.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2021
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. A prospective multicentre external validation study of the Liverpool Peritonsillar abscess Score (LPS) with a no-examination COVID-19 modification.Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery · 2021
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Hospital admissions for acute throat and deep neck infections versus tonsillectomy rates in Germany.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2019
    Article
  13. Observational
  14. Article
  15. The hidden cost of deep neck space infectionsAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2018
    Article
  16. The effect of tonsillectomy on the morbidity from recurrent tonsillitis.Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery · 2017
    Observational
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Serious tonsil infections versus tonsillectomy rates in Wales: A 15-year analysis.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2017
    Observational
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

A S LauAintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
N S Upile
M D Wilkie
S C Leong
A C Swift
University of Liverpool · GBAintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · GB

Funding

Department of Health 1980
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSore throats and tonsillitis represent a considerable health burden as well as a significant source of expenditure for the National Health Service (NHS). As part of the recent NHS savings drive, the introduction of 'procedures of low clinical effectiveness' (PoLCE) lists has reinforced a large reduction in the number of tonsillectomies performed. We carried out a cross-sectional study of trends in emergency sore throat admissions in the context of the number of tonsillectomies performed.

methodsHospital Episode Statistics (HES) data were extracted. Office for National Statistics data were also used.

resultsBetween 1991 and 2011, the overall tonsillectomy rate fell by 44%. In the same time, the admission rate for tonsillitis rose by 310% (Pearson's r=-0.67, p=0.01). The peritonsillar abscess admission rate rose by 31% (r=-0.79, p<0.01). Between 1996 and 2011, the overall tonsillectomy rate fell by 41% and the retro and parapharyngeal abscess admission rate rose by 39% (r=-0.55, p=0.026). There was a 14% overall increase in tonsillectomy and sore throat associated bed days. This was despite the large fall in tonsillectomy numbers and the reduction in length of hospital stay.

conclusionsEfforts to reduce the tonsillectomy rate are correlated with a significant rise in emergency admissions. The rise in the retro and parapharyngeal abscess rate is perhaps most alarming given the very high mortality of these conditions. Bed day data suggest that no net saving has been made despite the new measures.

Indexed as

AbscessAdolescentAgedBed OccupancyChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesEmergenciesHospitalizationHumansInfantMiddle AgedPeritonsillar AbscessPharyngitisTonsillectomyTonsillitis

Identifiers

PMID24780025
PMCPMC4574416
OpenAlexW2074176638

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.